Second greatest Australian batsman

[Fiery]

Sorry Fiery, I feel a bit sheepish myself after that exchange.

I felt a little sheepish and now wish I hadn't

 

[Scallywag]

I felt a little sheepish and now wish I hadn't

Not trying to ram home my point but ewe did set yourself up like a lamb for slaughter.

 

[Fiery]

Not trying to ram home my point but ewe did set yourself up like a lamb for slaughter.

Very good

I like this one:

Two sheep herders are flying the herd to a new farm. Suddenly, the engine fails and the plane begins to fall quickly to the ground. SH1: Quick! Grab a parachute and jump! SH2: What about the sheep?!? SH1: f u c k the sheep!!!! SH2: (pause) Do you think we have time?

 

[Richard]

just like javagal srinath and heath streak and dion nash i'm guessinG? id!ot

The idiot is anyone who doesn't think all could have been a hell of a lot better than they were (the latter two of whom had their careers seriously affected by injury and the former who had more than his fair share).

 

[Richard]

Devastating on a green top maybe. I remember him well and was just shocked that you had included a one-test-wonder with questionable fitness and a total of 35 tests wickets to his name in such illustrious company.

He complimented them well... not all lists are exclusive of alike inclusives.
Being injury-prone is hardly a slant on a player, more like a good reason to forgive certain failings.

The afro part was just for emphasis and "muppet" is what I call all Englishmen.

I'll ignore all such prejudicial comments in future, then.

 

[Richard]

As far as the "sh*t" aussie team of the mid 80's, I'm talking about the period from 1984 to 1987, prior to the WC win, which turned things around somewhat.

Lets see,

Boon - Young, inexperienced & not yet at his peak

No, not - fair enough - but still good enough to average in the 50s in First-Class cricket on the 1985 tour.

Kepler Wessels - Went back to SA

But still played 12 Tests in the 1984-86 period.

Steve Waugh - Young, inexperienced & not yet at his peak

Yes, fair enough - but wasn't a bad bowler.

McDermott - Young, inexperienced & not yet at his peak

But still good enough to finish his 8th Test with an average under 30 - his really poor period came in the next 8 games.

Reid - Hardly in the side due to chronic back injurires

But was ever-present in '85-'87 - only later that his injury-problems kicked-in.

Lawson - Great bowler at his best but prone to injury & couldn't do it all on his own

Missed a load of games in '86 and '87, yes, but missed just 1 game out of 14 in '84-'85.

Alderman - Went on the rebel SA tour & was banned.

Yeah - played just 6 games between '82 and '88.

So that list starts to look thin now, doesn't it? Maybe calling the side sh*t was too harsh.

Which is all I meant - I was hardly calling it a fantastic side.

I think it seemed that way because the ACB in their wisdom chose to play the West Indies a LOT during that period, & Richard Hadlee was at his peak & tore Aust apart.

As far as AB being the 2nd best Aust batsman, I don't know. Maybe he isn't. I just wanted to make the point that he spent the best years of his career fighting rearguard actions with little or no support, constantly thinking "if I get out, we're gonna lose". It would have been interesting if he'd had a few more reliable players around him & he could cut loose without having to worry so much.